Virginia Leape
About Virginia Leape
Virginia Leape serves as the Regional VAM Officer (Cash & Markets) at the World Food Programme in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has a background in Modern Languages and Cultures from Durham University and holds a Master of Public Policy in Global Affairs from Yale University.
Work at World Food Programme
Virginia Leape currently serves as the Regional VAM Officer (Cash & Markets) at the World Food Programme. She has held this position since 2022, working from the City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. In this role, she focuses on the integration of cash-based interventions and market analysis to enhance food security and support vulnerable populations.
Education and Expertise
Virginia Leape studied at Durham University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Modern Languages and Cultures (MLAC) from 2011 to 2015. She furthered her education at Yale University, obtaining a Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) in Global Affairs from 2017 to 2019. Her academic background provides her with a strong foundation in policy analysis and international development.
Professional Experience at Oxfam
Virginia Leape worked at Oxfam in various roles, including as the CCI Research, Policy & Advocacy Coordinator from 2020 to 2022 in Irbīl, Iraq. Prior to this, she served as the CCI Research & Advocacy Coordinator from 2019 to 2020. In these positions, she contributed to research and advocacy efforts aimed at improving humanitarian responses and policy frameworks.
Consultancy at International Labour Organization
Virginia Leape was a Consultant on Crisis Response, Livelihoods, and Knowledge Management at the International Labour Organization from 2015 to 2017 in Beirut, Lebanon. She also completed an internship with the IPEC (International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour) in 2014 for five months in San Jose, Costa Rica. These experiences provided her with insights into labor issues and crisis management.
Previous Roles and Contributions
In addition to her work at Oxfam and the International Labour Organization, Virginia Leape served as an English Language Assistant at AFPA in Limousin, France, from 2013 to 2014. She also briefly worked as a Senior Cash Learning Advisor at Mercy Corps in London, England, in 2022. These roles reflect her diverse experience in education and humanitarian assistance.